Rome fights its demons as Holy Year approaches

A man stands after he climbed onto an outside ledge of Colosseum in Rome, Italy November 27, 2015. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

ROME, (Reuters) - Rome is bracing for the arrival of millions of pilgrims for the Roman Catholic Holy Year which officials had hoped could revitalise the scandal-plagued city, but which threatens to be more of a headache than a help.

Pope Francis took Italy by surprise when he announced in March that a Holy Year, one of the Church's most important events, would start on Dec. 8, some nine years before the next one had been scheduled.